No excuses!

With the new year quickly approaching, there’s no better time to start planning your fitness resolutions. It doesn't have to be rigorous or heavy. But a simple start can lead to better health and more strength for you in the long run. Who knows? You might just be able to complete one of the world's most brutal obstacle courses, the Spartan Race, like Singaporean influencers Xinlin Khaw and Novita Lam. They were challenged to an 'Xtreme Quest' by Blue Ant Extreme, the channel for adrenaline-pumping entertainment.

No pressure, of course. Baby steps definitely count! So if you're looking to get more active in the new year — even though you're pressed for time — take inspiration from the two, who juggled their full-time jobs with a rigorous diet and fitness training, and try these realistic ways to get healthy.

Bike on your commute

Shared bicycles are readily available almost everywhere so why not use them to the office? Cycling improves cardiovascular and aerobic fitness, builds muscle, and improves coordination. If your office is a tad too far, you can skip the bus and ride to your nearest train station. Bonus: Aside from the health benefits, it also keeps you away from the morning crowd.

Walk it out

Too busy for a run? Try speed walking. Walking is one of the easiest ways to get fit and maintain heart health. Did you know that you can burn up to 200 calories in 30 minutes while speed walking? Start incorporating brisk walking into your daily commute by alighting two bus stops before your destination and walk home after work.

Opt for the stairs

Did you know that climbing the stairs burns more calories than jogging? According to research, you burn 15 calories per three flights of stairs. So, whether you’re on your way to the train platform, office or home, ditch the elevator and take the stairs instead. Not only will you burn calories and fats, climbing the stairs will build muscles and increase stamina and energy.

Take active breaks

Warning to the office workers: Sitting in the office for long periods can take a toll on your body; it slows down your metabolism and puts you at a higher risk of heart disease and obesity. Aim for a five- to 10-minute break every one to two hours of working and take a short walk around your office building or climbing the stairs. If your office allows it, squeeze in a 20-minute workout at a nearby gym.

Join a group fitness class

Imagine walking into a class of supportive, like-minded individuals and an encouraging instructor; there’s no way you’ll feel unmotivated. Group fitness is a great way to constantly keep yourself motivated and accountable for your workouts. Join a class and start pushing yourself.

Snack on nuts

Put away that bag of chips lying in your office pantry. Instead, grab a handful of almonds for your mid-afternoon snack. Almonds contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. They are a good source of energy, too.

Healthy doesn’t have to be expensive

You may be tempted to order that delicious plate of nasi lemak but did you know that one serving of it contains around 600 calories? That’s the equivalent to almost one hour of running. Stay away from temptation and opt for healthier options. Some pocket-friendly and guilt-free meals from your local hawker include sliced fish soup, Teochew porridge, thunder tea rice, popiah, yong tau foo, ban mian, wanton noodles and mee soto — all under 500 calories. If you need coffee, remember to opt for a Kopi O Kosong (coffee without milk and sugar).

One-pan recipes

After a long day at work, ordering from McDonald's is probably the fastest way to get your dinner fix, but definitely not the healthiest. With one-pan recipes, such as Broccoli Fried Rice or Tuna Pasta, you, too, can whip up a healthy meal under 30 minutes.

Start eating slowly

Have you been told to chew your food longer before swallowing? Eating quickly often leads to overeating as your brain doesn’t have enough time to receive fullness signals, hence, leading to potential weight gain. Most foods take at least 20 minutes to digest. Eating slowly gives our brain time to receive these signals and helps you feel more full. Eating slowly also improves digestion and nutrient-absorption into the body.

Keep your bottle close

Stay hydrated and away from sugary drinks by carrying a water bottle with you at all times. Thirst can often be mistaken for hunger as well. So the next time you’re feeling hungry, reach for your bottle before you reach for a chocolate bar.

Star-studded holidays

We may forget it at times because of their high-profile status, but celebrities are humans, too. They're not immune to the holiday spirit and celebrate the festivities just like we do, with food, good company and a whole lot of Instagramming. The only difference is the level of 'extra' they include in their celebrations. So before we fully bid Christmas goodbye and start our New Year countdown, let's look at how some of our favourite celebrities' spent their festive celebrations as documented on the 'gram.

Ashley Tisdale

The High School Musical star still channels her iconic character Sharpay Evans after all these years with her matching pink hair and rose-hued Christmas tree. And do we even have to mention the star-covered kicks? Our Disney-loving hearts are screaming!

Lily Collins

Here's a Christmas stocking moment from Lily Collins. Giving us the cosiest of vibes with her plaid jammies and soft white cover-up, we think we're speaking for everyone when we say we're jealous of both that cute outfit and her equally adorable unicorn hand puppet.

Gigi Hadid

Looking at family photo albums is a common holiday activity and, apparently, Gigi Hadid is no exception to this tradition. Serving us a major throwback with this adorable festive snap, talk about her and sister Bella being model-esque even at a young age, right?

Halsey

Festive outfit, what? The Without Me singer seems to have tossed pullovers and jammies aside this year to chill with a beer in hand and her Lakers jersey while watching the team's Christmas day game against the Golden State Warriors. Now, we don't know which team you're rooting for but all we can say is this look just proves that hoop earrings truly elevate any outfit, casual or otherwise.

Millie Bobby Brown

The Stranger Things star has already proved she's growing to be a style icon with her past red carpet looks but her festive outfit just sealed the deal even more. From that red-to-black combo to the on-point accessorising, we can't see anything wrong with this outfit and we just hoped she'll post which shoes she paired this look with so we can cop it already!

Sophie Turner

From one TV series favourite to another, Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner takes celebrity festive dinners to the next level by posting a snap of her with the Jonas household. Besides her fiancé and DNCE frontman Joe Joans, you can also spot newlyweds Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in the photo. Covering all grounds of the industry — from concerts to film productions to red carpets — just imagine how the Christmas dinner conversations go.

Kardashian-Jenners

Will it really be a celebrity listicle without any mention of the Kardashian-Jenner clan? While each of the ladies in the family posted looks from their extravagant holiday party (filled with equally famous names in the guest list), we all know that their annual family Christmas card is the one to wait for. They've done glamourous and themed ones before, but for this year, it's just minimalist, simple and very adorable with all the kids in the family taking the centre stage.

Gemma Chan

English actress Gemma Chan showed how different she is from her Crazy Rich Asians character Astrid Leong by posting a warm and fun-filled series of Polaroid shots on her Instagram. There may be no million-dollar worth earrings and shoes in sight but we're all for the laidback photos of her just goofing off with some loved ones.

Taylor Swift

It's no secret that the Look What You Made Me Do songstress is a huge cat lover but we weren't prepared to see this level of cat cuteness. Greeting everyone with a 'Purry Christmas', it's nice to see Tay-Tay in such a soft and chill mood for the holidays especially with the strong and edgy image she's been putting out on social media recently in line with her Reputation tour.

The Royal Family

Not that they need a popularity boost but ever since Meghan Markle joined the Royal Family, it's safe to say that their fanbase hiked up. As expected, the Dukes and Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex served us royalty-level chicness with their choice of fancy coats, scarves and hats while on the way to the church to celebrate Christmas morning. We're definitely copping the crimson hat-and-clutch combo from Kate and that dress—and—boots match-up from Meghan!

Femme fashion

Just because Christmas is over, it doesn't mean that the holiday cheer is already at a close. With everything else that's left to do during the rest of the holidays, whether it's parties, fulfiling travel plans or just casual mingling, wearing the right pieces is the way to go. As for the hue of choice, show a more feminine and laidback side to you by sporting shades of pink, just like our lovely ladies from the Community.